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THE MATERIALITY OF COLOR IN PRE-COLUMBIAN CODICES: INSIGHTS FROM CULTURAL HISTORY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2017

Élodie Dupey García
Élodie Dupey García*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
*
Email correspondence to: edupeygarcia@gmail.com
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Abstract

This article explores the materiality of the colors of some Nahua codices from pre-Columbian Mexico, comparing data obtained from two bodies of evidence: scientific investigation—through macroscopic inspection and physicochemical studies—and historical accounts. In doing so, this article shows that the Colonial period literature contributes to the understanding of the creation process of the codices and their chromatic palettes, in particular regarding some coloring materials, the identification of which still remains a challenge for scientists. The comparison carried out in this article also elucidates certain aspects of the historical texts on Mesoamerican colors, which were previously poorly understood or misinterpreted.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , Spring 2017 , pp. 21 - 40
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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